not considered, an element so considerable in its practical bearing upon
the requirements of the company to meet its liabilities, that of one
million of assumed liabilities upon say one thousand lives, only about
$77.000 become actual liabilities by reason of policies maturing by
death of the insured.

Assessment insurance instructed by the experience of life companies,
adjusts its plans and methods upon the natural basis of fact, and not
the artificial one of supposition. It tabulates its rates according to
the combined experience of all American companies, requiring the insured
to pay a sum proportionate to the amount assured, and to his life
expectancy.

It places its risks upon carefully selected lives only, requiring a
competent medical examination of the applicant, having regard to his
previous health and habits, his occupation or profession, his family
history, and such other circumstances as should properly be considered
in calculating probable longevity.

We assert without fear, that we shall be successfully controverted, that
there is as great care and discrimination exercised in the placing of
risks by our representation assessment companies, as in any other form
of insurance. Time was when this claim could not have been supported by
facts, but that time is not now. Our conservative assessment
companies,--and there are many of them that can be fairly so styled,
ignore none of the scientific principles upon which life insurance
depends for its permanent success. They do believe however that their
methods of conducting the business will conserve the interests of a far
greater number, and relieve them of a large proportion of the burdens
imposed by the older and more cumbersome form.